The Blues have three games left with the torrid Blue Jackets, starting Saturday at Scottrade Center. Columbus is 14-5-1 in it last 20 games, thank largely to red-hot goaltender Steve Mason.

To get into the playoffs, the Blues will have to figure out how to beat this hard-working, defensive-minded team.

“To me, this is all about hunger,” Hitchcock told the Canadian Press. “You can see the teams that are really hungry right now. You can see it in St. Louis, Nashville, us, Anaheim. It comes down to hunger — what are the most uncomfortable things you can do to help your team reach their level of success.

“I know how well we’ll have to play to beat these teams. I know there are a lot of teams in this mix right now, but there’s a certain hunger in some teams that you can vividly see — teams that want this thing really, really badly.”

This make for compelling hockey to watch, but often agonizing hockey to coach. Hitchcock, Andy Murray and Barry Trotz have been at this a long time – so you know that the Blue Jacket, Blues and Predators will find a way to play this thing through.

(It was fun watching Hitchcock outcoach Mike Keenan Thursday night on the ditch. Experts claim Iron Mike  has mellowed, but Hockey Guy remains underwhelmed by his work in Calgary. He has been given the talent to win a Stanley Cup. Let’s see if he gets it done.)

IT’S MILLER TIME

The Sabres are playing catch-up in the Eastern Conference playoff race, so they were glad to get goaltender Ryan Miller back with nine games left. “Any time you get your No. 1 goaltender back, that’s a big deal,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “We know we have to put a string of games together. That’s obvious.

“You’d like to do that with your best goalie in the net, the guy that’s got the best record. There’s no reason our guys shouldn’t even play harder in front of Ryan now.”

AROUND THE RINKS: Just in time for the stretch run, the Flames got big Todd Bertuzzi back from his minor knee surgery. It’ll be interesting to see how he fares on Olli Jokinen’s line . . . The Blackhawks lost Old Friend Matt Walker and Cam Barker to injuries, so Dustin Byfuglien will move back to defense for the time being . . . With Jason Arnott struggling with post-concussion syndrome, the Predators didn’t need to lose David Legwand to a facial injury . . . Yan Stastny scored three goals on Peoria’s recent five-game road trip . . . Winger Chris Kunitz has six goals and six assists in his first 12 games as a Penguin, Pittsburgh is 12-2-3 under new coach Dan Bylsma . . . Winger Erik Cole has 10 points in 10 games since returning to Carolina – and the Hurricanes are 7-1-2 since his arrival . . . Now that Steven Stamkos is scoring at a point-per-game pace down the stretch, the Lightning might decide to move Vincent Lecavalier after all. His 11-year, $85 million contract extension kicks in July 1 . . . Antoine Vermette has five goals and three assists in his first eight games in Columbus . . . The great Puck Daddy blog gets you ready for the NCAA hockey tournament with fun FAQ.